Now you know why we posted that link - to sucker you in. You want to hear more now, don't you! Well you can - live, and for FREE! Bring yourself and your friends down to Read, Write & Brew this Thursday night at 5pm, 'regardless of' whatever else you had planned (sorry Kristin, I just couldn't resist).

About KristinAfter traveling around the world Kristin Myers has broken in to the folk scene with a passion and determination. Her fans find themselves humming the melodies, saying “They have been my own personal soundtrack.”Her first album, Regardless of Me, highlights Kristin and her guitar. Recorded over the span of three months, the album is a concise collection of songs she has written, which now number over one hundred. Her album has been called “a sweet and much needed return to folk music” with songs that take you through the depths of a city, to the top of its highest sky rise, to a new found sanctuary and finally back home, all the while exploring various connections and relationships.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Have you ever wondered how to make friends? Then come to the Bog and meet Billy Bob the Bullfrog from Marshy Bog. He has a tongue so long he can almost reach the stars. So come and start the adventures of Marshy Bog and join in the journey of learning how to play.

Want to talk to the characters at Marshy Bog? Click here to send them a note or a question, and they will email you back!

Rene Ellis will visit Read, Write & Brew to read the newest book from her Marshy Bog series. Bring the kids for fun story time, get a signed copy, and help support a local Denver author.

Where: Read, Write & Brew When: December 11th, 2010Time: 1pm - 3pm

About Rene"Children and Children's books are my passion. My Marshy Bog series helps children understand that they should not taunt others because they are physically or mentally different than most.

My family is my motivation. I have been married for 30 years and have two grown sons, Matthew and Derek. My Marshy Bog Series was written about and for our two sons as they were growing up.

Our youngest son, Derek, had severe hearing problems as a child and I remember the times that he was made fun of due to speech problems. However, he was the type of person that could deffinately take care of himself when this happened but it still hurt. He does not have a speech problem today! Sadly, most children do not know how to defend against this type of situation and hide their fear of being taunted! I have approximately 12 stories written and I am excited that my first story was just released and titled, Billy Bob the Bullfrog. You see, Billy Bob has a tongue so long that it almost reaches the stars but due to this he can't speak properly. In short, Marshy Bog is Where Children Learn to Play!

I hope that my words encourage those that are different from others to find their own strength and become successful just like Billy Bob and Boomer the Badger.

Friday, November 19, 2010

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. This year, November 27th is the first ever Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.

More than a dozen advocacy, public and private organizations have already joined American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Dee took a break from her 'National Novel Writing Month' Meetup Group in order to sit down with Julie for this months Java Junkie interview.

Dee: Not everyone remembers 'Davina', so most people call me Dee.Julie: That's a beautiful name.Dee: Thank you. It's a Hebrew name, a feminine form of 'David' and it means 'beloved', and my middle name is 'dawn' so it means 'the beloved break of day'.Julie: That's so beautiful, your mum and dad did a good job on that one!Dee: Yeah, they got really deep on that one - they were hippies (laughs).Julie: And so you mentioned you grew up in North Carolina?Dee: Mm-hum! I'm from North Carolina, I've lived there all my life until 6 months ago. I was born in a small town in the center - in the exact center - called Sanford. Wilmington, by the coast, was my favorite place. I love the beach.Julie: So what made you decide to move all the way across the country to Colorado?Dee: Well, a couple of things, my Fiance is in the Medical Marijuana business, so we opened up a dispensary. And also, one of my best friends has lived out here for about 12 years, and she's been trying to get me to come out here and work with her. And she's starting a new company, so once she gets it off the ground, I'll be working for her.Julie: So are you working right now, or are you just waiting for her business to take off.Dee: Well, no, I'm helping my Fiance with his business, and I'm working on my book.Julie: That's right. Jefferson mentioned to me that you're writing for the competition...Dee: National Novel Writing Month. Entries are due at the end of November. The premise of it is you have 30 days to write 50,000 words, which is roughly equivalent to 175 pages. So, if you write 1700 words every day, for a month, it's enough for a novel. And this year about 197,000 people are doing it across the world. So far I'm on target. I've been staying with my word count. But, it's definitely a challenge because I've never written anything this long.Julie: So you've written things before?Dee: Yes, I was a writer back in North Carolina. Before I moved here I worked for an arts magazine, and I've also worked for a woman's issues magazine, I used to do restaurant reviews, I worked for a newspaper - I've always just loved writing.Julie: So what are you writing about for your entry to the National Novel Writing Month?Dee: I'm writing a memoir. I love reading fiction, but, I'm not going to say I'm not good at it - because I haven't really tried - but I just haven't ever written a lot of it. So for my first attempt at a book I'm just going to do something where I know the subject matter. And it's also for my son. He's 19 years old now, so if anything happens to me, I would like for him to have something that he could go back and read and know who I am and how I got here.Julie: So I ask everyone this, do you have a favorite drink at Read, Write & Brew?Dee: Oh man, I sure do (laughs). I always get a medium cappuccino with skim milk, wet. Recently I've been drinking your Great White Pumpkin Latte, for Halloween - that's my guilty pleasure.Julie: Sometimes you have to treat yourself and go all out, get the whipped cream on top and everything.Dee: That's what I did too!Julie: So my final question to all our Java Junkies is, what's something people - reading this blog or just hanging out in the store - would be surprised to know about you?Dee: I could tell you a couple of things. The first one is, as I told you guys last week and you were surprised to find out, that I have a son who's 19. A lot of people don't think that I'm old enough - which is good. So that surprises people, and the other thing is I've actually hung out at the Playboy Mansion. I have a friend who does a lot of charity events there, and about 4 times a year they throw these big parties and all the money goes towards charities like 'SPCA' or 'Make A Wish Foundation' or any other charity that they happen to be working with. So I'll get all dolled up and put on some sexy clothes, and go hang out with Hugh Hefner. I don't usually do stuff like that, I never wear makeup, I'm always in some sweats or jeans, so when I do get all dolled up it's like, 'Woah, who's that?'. The Playboy Mansion is amazing. It's got a zoo, and a huge grotto with waterfalls, acres and acres where you can play volleyball or hang out at the game room, there's peacocks running around, and all sorts of crazy things - it's huge. It's really great, because you get to hang around all these celebrities and people who do amazing things, and beautiful ladies, and it's just a beautiful atmosphere. So, you probably wouldn't know that by looking at me (laughs).Julie: Well thanks so much for agreeing to this interview.Dee: Well, I'm honored. I can't wait to see it!

Well Dee, sorry it took so long, but here it is!It was such a pleasure getting to know one of our newest regulars - such a beautiful girl, inside and out. We hope you enjoyed your $10 gift certificate, and used it to treat yourself to an all out Great White Pumpkin - whipped cream and all!

Click here if you'd like to read an excerpt of Dee's entry into the National Novel Writing Month competition.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

This group meets every Tuesday (1.30pm - 3.00pm) and is made up of knitters of all abilities. From those picking up needles for the first time, to the 'I've-lost-count-how-many-times-I-have-done-this' time. Called 'The Loosely Knit Bunch' because it's not a requirement to attend every get together - just come along whenever you can. If you need help and advice with your latest project, or just love the company of fellow knitting addicts as you click those needles away, be sure to drop by and say hi.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Authors from the 'Foothills & Vicinity Writes Group' came to 'Read, Write & Brew' on September 11th for a meet and greet. For those of you who were not able to attend, this blog post is about those authors who attended and the books they have published. Read on to learn about the writers living in your neighbourhood."Words in My Hands A Teacher, A Deaf-Blind, An Unforgettable Journey"and"Hearing the Stream A Survivor's Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer"

Reviewed by Robert Hamilton , California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers

When I agreed to read and review Ms. Chambers’ book, I expected something like Tuesdays With Morrie. A little volume of reminiscences, celebrating the precious frailty of life and the human spirit, blah blah blah. Mea Culpa, I know, but that’s what I expected.

What I got was, indeed, all that, and a whole lot more. Ms. Chambers has woven four stories together into one inspirational book. The first and foremost is, of course, the story of her teacher-student relationship with the 86-year-old deaf-blind Bert Riedel, and her quest to reconnect him to life through signing communication. Fleshing out that narrative is his personal history, gathered from friends and relatives, bringing him alive to us not as a subject but as a human being, surrounded by his own universe of memories and experiences, and with his own particular philosophy of life. The third story is the history of the author and how she came to be an interpreter for the deaf as well as their advocate. And through it all is interwoven the history of the Deaf community, American Sign Language, and the hearing world’s perception and treatment of the deaf.Purchase book.

Hearing the Stream, A Survivor's Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast CancerNew Arrival!

Review by Allan Burns, Editor, Colorado Springs, CO

Hearing the Stream, the fruit of all she has experienced and learned as a cancer survivor, is an inspiring book that weaves together her own story and those of five others, thereby providing multiple perspectives on a complex disease that can be a different as the individual people dealing with it. As Dr. Tim Byers of the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center says, "Accounts such as this of the human toll of breast cancer motivate me as a researcher--and should motivate us all--to redouble our many efforts to reduce further and someday eradicate this disease." Purchase book.

About the AuthorDiane Lane Chambers, a resident and native of Colorado, holds a B.S. degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Colorado. Nationally certified as a sign language interpreter she has worked in the Denver Public School system as an educational interpreter and, for thirteen years, directed a summer program at Gove Community School, in Denver, into which deaf and physically disabled children were mainstreamed.Over the last thirty years as a free-lance interpreter she has provided sign language interpretation for hundreds of consumers in a wide array of settings including health care, business, education, and government.As a breast cancer survivor and advocate, Diane is an active member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She is a 2003 graduate of the Coalition’s Project LEAD, and since then has participated in a number of the NBCC’s Advocacy Trainings in Washington D.C., and Lobby Days on Capital Hill. In December 2005, she attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and graduated from the Alamo Breast Cancer Patient Advocate Program. Locally she volunteers for the American Cancer Society giving presentations and meeting with newly diagnosed women as part of the Reach to Recovery Program. She lives with her husband in Conifer, Colorado.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Julie (pressing record on her voice recorder): Alright, so we are going to record our Java Junkie interview…

Jefferson (in the background): woah, woah… are we getting all high tech with our interviews now?

Julie: Don’t interrupt, this is valuable airtime you’re taking up here. So this is with Jane and Less Prior. How did you guys first find out about Read, Write & Brew?

Jane: Well, we take Taekwondo class across from the store, and I think the first person that really introduced us was Sara Webb. We try to come every Saturday after we work out. That’s our treat (laughs).

Julie: So what’s your favorite drink?

Less: The ‘Black and Tan’.

Jane: Yeah, the ‘Black and Tan’.

Less: So far…

Julie: What are you guys reading right now?

Jane: I did buy a book here when you had the Foothills and Vicinity Writers Group out here, and I’ve started to read that, the one about Kansas (‘What do you do with the yolks? ‘ by Carol Devlin). Since I’ve started homeschooling I’ve been reading a lot with Danny so, you know, my pleasure reading has kinda been put on hold, just because I try to read his lessons before the next lesson. I’m learning a lot from his studies.

Julie: How long have you been homeschooling Danny?

Jane: This is my second year. He’s in fifth grade. He loves to read. If he gets a good book, he’s a really good reader. So I’m really happy about that. That runs in our family.

Julie: So Jane, tell us about your project that you’re working on at the Taekwondo school.

Jane: Well I’m working on my black belt for December’s testing, and this testing is for my recommended black belt. My goal is to help raise money for the families who need assistance in paying for the Taekwondo classes. So to raise this money I’m helping Sara Webb with the Halloween event. We’re going to make it like a carnival and the money that people pay for the games goes towards that.

Julie: Oh, that’s the Trunk ‘n Treat! I remember you guys hosting that last year. What day are you having that this year?

Jane: Saturday October 30th from 4pm to 6pm. Everyone’s welcome to come and check things out and check the school out. We raise the money by people paying to take part in the activities, and Danny as well as Brett (Sara’s son) have volunteered to have people throw whipped cream at their face for one of the competitions. That’s the game I’m organizing for my project.

Less: There’s going to be food there too.

Jane: Everybody’s going to bring their own ‘pot luck’ for everyone to share. They’ll also have the contest for the trunks, where we all vote for the trunk that everyone likes best.

Less: And everybody gets candy because each trunk you go to, it’s like ‘trick or treat’, but it’s a ‘trunk or treat’, so you visit the ‘trunk’ and you get a ‘treat’.

Jefferson: So do you have junk in your trunk?

Jane: (laughs) In my trunk I’m going to have a donation jar and people are welcome to donate to the families with that. We have about 5 or 6 families that benefit from this fundraising, so we just need to get more money in there.

Julie: We’ll that’s awesome, I’ll have to make sure I promote that on our blog site [editor’s note: DONE!] So another question I usually ask our Java Junkies is, what would our blog readers be surprised to know about you?

Less: I met Mickey Rooney when I worked on the golf course. When I was at Tre Hills Country Club, I was top dressing tee’s and he was playing a round of golf with the gold pro. So he was giving the golf pro lessons. I ended up just top dressing and I went 4 or 5 holes with them. He was a character. And he’s really short like they say. He was just cracking jokes.

Julie: How long ago was that?

Less: Well, that was 30 or 40 years ago.

Jane: I think, what people would find surprising about us is that everyone thinks that Taekwondo is for kids but what we’re doing is something that’s really difficult for adults to do (taking classes). There’s about 10 parents that join in. But we’ve stuck with it and continue to stick with it. When I first brought Danny there I thought it was just for the kids but it’s for adults as well. That’s us getting on the mats and testing in front of people, which was hard because that’s not who I am. I have changed a lot from doing that in terms of confidence and how to talk to people. It’s hard for me to get up and speak in front of other people and I’m a little bit better with that now. I think that’s helped us a lot.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Authors from the 'Foothills & Vicinity Writes Group' came to 'Read, Write & Brew' on September 11th for a meet and greet. For those of you who were not able to attend, this blog post is about those authors who attended and the books they have published. Read on to learn about the writers living in your neighbourhood.

Daybreak in OdessaA memoir by Rita Stout

"The family clockwise from upper right- Rita, a senior at the University who would graduate six months later; Walter, my father, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Heinrich the dog who bit the mailman; my brother, Wally, fourteen years old and in junior high; my sister Wendy, five years old; my mother, and my sister Lois, a freshman at the university. A year later in spring of 1959, as the family finished eating dinner, my father announced that he had just accepted a sabbatical at the University of Hawaii for the summer. Lois and I were welcome to come if we agreed to "be on deck" five days a week to take care of Wendy during the day. I balked. This had been my life to date, caretaker of the family. For the first time in my life I made other plans. This is my story."

This is an unusual coming of age story with unexpected twists and turns, a true account of a sheltered, naïve woman in her early twenties as she struggles to extricate herself from parents who, though well intentioned, were critical and controlling. In the desert of West Texas she meets a man who believes in her. With newfound confidence she learns to cope with both the joy and obstacles of life in a place vastly different from the home she left. Heartfelt and brutally honest, she shares the journey that each must take to give birth to one’s self.

Rita Stout teaches reading to college freshmen. Her first book, Not so Small a Circle, chronicles her only daughter's valiant but loosing battle with leukemia. She lives with her husband in Denver, Colorado.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Daybreak in Odessa, send a certified check or money order to: Rita Stout 2330 Yarrow St., Lakewood, CO 80214 (Please Allow 3 weeks for processing & mailing). PRICE: $18.00 (+ $3.00 shipping) total per book.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Have you been in to see our new additions yet? We've brought some new furniture pieces into the store, and I think you'll agree, we've definitely got the 'Coffeehouse' vibe going on now. If you haven't experienced the coziness yet, you've got to come in soon.

More couches.

Cozy chess playing nook.

Conference table, comfortably seats 8, surrounded by books

Stage.

We're still looking for musicians to play Monday to Thursday nights. If you know anyone who'd be interested, please get them to contact us.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

We're putting together a list of live entertainment events and will announce them as soon as we have it all confirmed.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a venue with a stage for music, performing, reading, public speaking... or anything, let us know and we'll add it to our calendar. Come in and talk to Jefferson, or send us an email: read.write.brew@gmail.com.

Friday, September 24, 2010

This is the first of a series of local author spotlights we're going to feature on this blog. To begin, we'll write about authors from the Foothills & Vicinity Writes Group. They came to Read, Write & Brew on September 11th for a meet and greet. For those of you who were not able to attend, read on for information about the writers living in your neighbourhood, and the books they've published.

Carol Devlin

What Do You Do With The Yolks?

A Happy Childhood on the Prairie of Western Kansas

Carol Devlin started her journey as a storyteller by making up stories to tell her sisters after they’d gone to bed at night. Many of the stories became often-requested favorites, and her sisters still have fond memories of the peace the stories and the sound of her voice brought them at the end of the day. Devlin brings those stories to life in What Do You Do With The Yolks?

This collection of personal memories portrays what life was like in rural Kansas in the 1940s. The stories travel from Devlin’s first memories of choking on a nickel to the final years spent on the family farm before moving to the city. One of five daughters, Devlin tells of surviving nature’s threats such as a devastating tornado, ferocious blizzards, the pestilence of grasshoppers, and the fury of dust storms. From starting kindergarten to getting her first job at an ice cream shop, Devlin shares her fondest memories.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Does Rubber Burn? Virginia age 5 Carol (me) age 3 1946

I don’t know where that old tire beside the chicken house came from. It just appeared one day or maybe it had been there all along, and Virginia and I suddenly noticed it. It wasn’t on a rim, and if memory serves me, was bigger than a car tire. Standing it up, we looked it over but it was too big to roll around, pretty dirty, and we had to keep wiping our hands on our clothes. We got on top of it and walked around. A little bit fun. Then we jumped up and down, but it was thick and not very springy. Not much excitement in that. We studied the tire like two scientists analyzing a moon rock; there just had to be more to this rubber wonder than met the eye. Several pieces of lumber stacked beside the chicken house made good seats, so we found a comfy piece to sit on and watch the tire. I found a lath long enough to reach the tire from where I sat, and bounced it off of the side a few times, then poked it in the tread knocking chunks of dirt on the ground. Sort of interesting. That’s when Virginia came up with her great idea. “I wonder if rubber burns.” “Let’s find out.” I loved watching things burn. Virginia went in the house for matches. Dried husks in the cornfield behind the chicken house provided nice dry tinder to get the fire started. We stuffed the tire full; Virginia struck the match on the scratchy side of the little box, and held it under a husk. Hot, smoky flames spread rapidly around the circumference, and black smoke boiled high into the sky. Now that I’m thinking about it, I'll bet someone called Dad to tell him they could see a column of smoke near our house. The first pangs of alarm set in as we tried to figure out how to make it stop burning. We hadn’t bargained for the ferocity of the blaze. Using a piece of lumber, we pushed the blazing tire next to the chicken house. Then we found several boards nailed together, so we scooted one end up to the tire, struggled to stand them up, and pushed them like a lean-to over the tire hoping to hide the smoke. Just as the boards made contact with the side of the chicken house, we heard a car door slam; Daddy was home! Thick, black smoke rolled out from both sides of the lean-to, billowing high into the sky. Surely he would notice it, and we were headed for trouble. Dad shot around the corner of the house at an all-out pumping run. “Get back!” he yelled, taking in the situation. He threw our camouflage boards out of the way, grabbed the board we used to move the tire—since he didn’t have time to get a shovel—and used it to throw dirt on the fire until it was out. Thank goodness he knew what to do. We would never have thought of putting dirt on it. Breathing hard, he wiped sweat from his face with his forearm and turned to us. “What’s going on here? How did this fire get started?” It didn’t take a genius to see he was upset, and it looked like we were going to be blamed. I had the feeling this prank might warrant more than a swat, and someone had better come up with a quick answer. Virginia said, “We saw Joey running down the hill. “Yeah, we saw Joey running,” I chimed in bobbing my head up and down. Whew, good idea. “Was he in the yard? Now, are you sure it was him because I’m going to talk to his parents about this, and he’ll be in big trouble? This is very serious. Was it Joey?” “Yes, it was him, and he ran that way.” Virginia pointed in the direction of his house. “Yeah, he ran that way.” I pointed in the same direction, then twisted my fingers together and looked at Dad to see if he bought any of this. He looked me in the eye, and I scooted closer to Virginia. Joey, several years older, maybe eleven, and often in trouble, might as well take the rap for this since he had experience, and we didn’t have time to come up with anything better, like the truth. Dad started down the hill, and boy, was he mad. Both of us stood there watching him go, not knowing what to do or how this might turn out. I remember being relieved that Dad put the fire out. We had a good chance now that we might not get in trouble, but I felt very anxious and huddled next to Virginia. “Are you sure it was Joey?” Dad asked when he returned a few short minutes later. “Yes, it was him,” we answered in unison, nodding vigorously, holding hands. “That’s odd. Joey’s been out of town all week visiting his grandmother. I think you girls had better get in the house. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.” I truly don’t remember what happened after that, and I would remember a spanking since they were so rare. And, after all, the folks never told us not to set a tire on fire. Rubber really does burn, but it’s not a good idea.

With accompanying photos, What Do You Do With The Yolks? is a heartwarming look at the joys and sorrows and the hard work and the rewards of growing up in rural America. Visit www.iUniverse.com to purchase a copy.

About the Author

Carol Devlin is a storyteller and author. After retiring as a computer specialist, she designed craft patterns. She established Mountain Writers in Evergreen, Colorado, to help writers share their writing and publishing knowledge. Devlin is a volunteer, featured speaker, and panelist in Evergreen where she lives with her Lhasa Apso.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Thank you to the six local authors who came by to talk about their published books, and also a big thanks to 'The Foothills & Vicinity Writers Group' for making it all happen.

It was a great opportunity for our regulars to have a meet and greet with local authors and ask them questions about their published works, and also get advice on how to become a published author themselves.

If you weren't able to come by on Saturday to meet everyone, don't worry. We'll be writing about each author and their book on our blog. We'll feature a different author every week.

Also, were hoping to make this event a bi-annual event, so keep checking back for details about the next meet and greet - or sign up for our new newsletter to get notifications sent to your email inbox. There's a sign up sheet in the store, or email us with your address at read.write.brew@gmail.com.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Just in case you haven't heard, we're NOW OPEN LATER ON WEEKNIGHTS!We're now open until 9pm Monday to Thursday, so come check out our night-time vibe!

If you're a student, you'll love studying at Read, Write & Brew. We've got cool music that sets a study vibe and is not distracting, lots of comfy couches, places to power up that laptop while you work, and need we mention, awesome coffee to keep you awake and the brain pulses... err, pulsing? (I think I could do with a coffee myself right now).

As an introductory special for our new late night hours, we're offering 20% off food and drinks when you come study at our place and show us your student ID. Take advantage while the offer lasts, and tell all your friends!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

We've had an increased number of calls lately from people looking for coffee shops open late at night on weekdays. After receiving these calls, we did a little research and found out there are no coffee shops in Golden open past 7.30pm on weekdays. As a result, we've decided to adjust our hours to give the people what they're looking for, and hence we give you our new Fall hours:

Monday, August 23, 2010

Ed doing the cheesiest pose he could for his Java Junkies photo - as requested by Jefferson.

Ed works just up the road at Health Grades as a QA Engineer, and first found out about Read, Write & Brew while on one of his lunchtime walks. "I saw the 'Opening Soon' signs painted on the windows, and couldn't wait for you guys to open. I think the first time I came in you guys were only open about a week or so".

Ed comes in almost daily, usually sipping his favorite beverage, our Sugar Free Vanilla Latte. As I interviewed him today, he instead chose one of our $5 lunch specials; sandwich, chips and a can of Diet Dr Pepper. I interrupted his lunch to interview him for our blog, but he was a good sport about it and didn't seem to mind.

Julie: What book are you reading at the moment?

Ed: 'The Black Couldren' by Lloyd Alexander. Actually, I bought it from here.

Julie: What's it about?

Ed: Not sure, I haven't started it yet, but it's a Fantasy novel.

Julie: So is that your favorite genre, fantasy?

Ed: Yeah, science fiction or fantasy. The spirit of Pulp Fiction, in its hey day.

Jefferson: Hey, how's that website going that you're working on?

Julie: Website? What Website?

Ed: It's not finished yet, but it's called Ink Dweller. It's basically an online writers group for Pulp Fiction, or short stories. Writers can submit their short stories on the website, and the best stories will get published in the Ink Dweller Magaine, which is yet to be launched.

Julie: Writers Group hey? Did you know we're hosting a 'Meet the Authors Event' on September 11th with the Evergreen Foothills Writers Group?

Ed: Yeah, Jefferson told me about it. I'm coming to that for sure.

Julie: How long have you been writing short stories?

Ed: I'd say about 5 years or so.

I have grown to love interviewing our regulars for our monthly Java Junkie posts. I've discovered things about the people that come into Read, Write & Brew that I otherwise would never know about them. Take Ed for example. You yourself have probably seen him tapping away quietly on his laptop on the counter, not realizing he's creating such an awesome opportunity for other short story lovers like himself to share their ideas, stories and opinions on the Ink Dweller website.

I jumped onto inkdweller.com to have a looksie, and read his personal hypothesis on the difference between a writer, author and storyteller. Very interesting stuff. If you're into short story writing, be sure to have a looksie for yourself. While you're there, if you like what you see, why not log on and register? It's free and a great way to network with others who are also interested in Pulp Fiction and short story writing.

Julie: So when you're not Quality Assuring at Health Grades, or writing Pulp Fiction and short stories, what else do you like to do?

Ed: I like to play chess. I used to play in a club and in tournaments as part of the U.S. Chess Federation, but now I just mostly play with friends.

Julie: Into strategic games, huh. So, do you like playing Poker too?

Ed: Yeah, Texas Hold 'Em.

Julie: Hmmm... short story writing, chess, Texas Hold 'Em. Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?

Ed: Oh yeah, I'm a total introvert. Even down to playing Dungeons and Dragons, but don't put that part on the blog.

Oops!

Thanks Ed for being our August Java Junkie. We hope you enjoy your $10 store credit, and good luck with Ink Dweller.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

To those of you who've been wondering, 'who's the cute new the girl behind the counter?', her name is Alex, and she's our new book store clerk and barista extraudinare.

Talk about right place, right time.

Jefferson and I were starting to discuss how busy the morning rush was becoming, and that Jefferson was struggling to give the best possible customer service he could on his own. In walks Alex. Buys a coffee, hangs out for a bit, and asks if we're hiring. Alex said she came to us specifically because she liked what she read about us on our Blog and thought, that sounds like a cool place to work. Complimenting the owners. Already on a good start.

She's fresh out of college, with a Literacy major, looking for some kind of work to keep her occupied until she finds, as she puts it, a 'real job'. She went to College in Montana, and moved back to Colorado recently. She loves water sports, and she brews her own beer (and she's damned good at it too... we know, she's given us a few bottles to sample).

What we love most about Alex (apart from the delicious home brews she brings in for us) is her cool, calm, and friendly personality. We love her genuine enthusiasm for her work, and for the success of our store.

For example - most of you would be shocked if you knew that Alex had no barista experience before she came to RW&B. I say shocked because of the quality of the drinks she now prepares. Well yes, Jefferson can take credit for training her in everything he knows, but she's gone over and above what Jefferson taught her. We happened to mention in conversation one day that eventually we'd like to start creating latte art with our coffee drinks. Alex jumped at the opportunity to learn something new, and after a few Googled online videos and practice sessions, look what she can do now!
Get a latte to stay next time you're in, and you too can have your own Read, Write & Brew art in your latte froth... as long as Alex is behind the counter.

Oh, and remember that article in the Denver Post a few weeks back? Alex's parents thought of the idea to mention us and get us that free feature article!

So, talk about setting the bar high, hey: quick learner, personality, latte art, home brewed beers for the boss, free feature article in the Denver Post! Future RW&B employees, you've got your work cut out for you to try and top that... and we're waiting eagerly to see what you come up with!

Oh, and Alex..
Please don't ever find a 'real job'.
We like you too much.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Jack was one of the very first customers to walk through the door at Read, Write & Brew, and has been coming in almost daily ever since. He lives in the condo complex across the street, and discovered us one morning while going for a walk through the neighbourhood. He came in daily for his usual, which was a cappuccino. Then he started coming in with Melissa, his caregiver. He got her hooked on us (she comes in sometimes without Jack now), and she got Jack hooked on our White Chocolate Mocha's. He wasn't interested in trying anyhting new, but after she talked Jack into taking a sip of her white mocha one day, just to taste it, it's been Jack's 'usual' ever since. For the summertime, Melissa has switched to the frappé version though. Jack still likes his hot.

Q: What book are you reading right now?A: (Jack) Patton (no author given).

A: (Melissa) ..something by Dean Koontz, but I can't remember the name of it right now...

Q: What is your favorite author/book?A: (Jack) No favorite author. I like Non-Fiction books best.

A: (Melissa) Stephen King.

Q: What do you do for work?A: (Jack) I'm retired now, but I graduated from CU and worked in the army, and when I came back to Colorado I worked for the government.

A: (Melissa) Professional Caregiver. My husband and I also own our own hardwood flooring business.

Jack has travelled the world, and 17 years ago married his wife, Francie. He has a total of 5 kids, 16 grandkids and he even has great-grandkids!

Melissa is also married with two kids.

Q: What would you like people reading this blog to know about you?

A: (Jack) I've met the Queen of England.

Jefferson: Really, as in 'Queen Elizabeth', the current Queen of England?

A: (Jack) yes.

A: (Melissa) I've met Mr T!

Thanks Jack and Melissa for being great customers and loyal supporters of our 'lil 'ol coffee shop and used bookstore. Jack and Melissa received a $10 Read, Write & Brew gift certificate for being our July Java Junkies.

Friday, July 16, 2010

For those of you who read The Denver Post, you may have noticed your 'lil old Read, Write & Brew featured in the Your Hub section of yesterdays' paper. If you didn't catch it, here's the write up they did on us.

(If you click on the image you will be able to see an enlarged version that you'll be able to read).

How awesome, right? We were so excited, first of all to get recommended, and second of all, to make it to print!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Introducing Nick Roman - our June Java Junkie. Nick's in pretty much 5 days a week for his fave drink, 1/2 caf Americano with skim.

Nicks a licensed CPA, and has been married for 10 years, with two kids, 7 and 8 years old. Golden has been his home for the past 10 years, and we're glad he's made Read, Write & Brew his home for coffee. He's one of our most frequent regulars.

When he's not crunching numbers, sipping coffee, or spending time with the wife and kids, Nick loves to scuba and ski. He's been skiing in the Dolomites (Italy) and scuba diving in Palau. Pretty exotic, huh!

When randomly asked what his favorite dinosaur is, the answer is an Argentinosaurus, also known as the 'silver lizard'.

Something you may be surprised to know about him: in High School he played in both the state championship football and state championship soccer game in the same year.

His personal motto is, "Live life while you can, then die and be done with it."

It's an appealing notion that our daily pick-me-up may also confer a range of health benefits. And for coffee drinkers there's a lot of research percolating. Several studies suggest that a daily caffeine habit may help protect against Alzheimer's disease. But there's a catch. The cup or two a day that most Americans drink doesn't seem to be enough. Researchers say 500 mg of caffeine, or about five cups of regular coffee, is the dose that seems to protect the brain.

Five Cups A Day

This may sound like an excessive amount of caffeine. After five cups, lots of us would end up with the jitters and be making extra trips to the bathroom. But some coffee lovers are hard core:

"I drink five to six cups a day religiously," says Gary Arendash, a researcher at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, part of Florida State University. Arendash says he's convinced that caffeine is protecting his brain.

Arendash and his colleagues at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center have been studying the effects of caffeine on the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. They've found that adding caffeinated water to rodents' diet results in big improvements. The mice perform better on short-term memory and thinking tests. But only if they get enough caffeine.

"The human equivalent of two to three cups of coffee does not have benefits in our Alzheimer's mice," says Arendash.

Arendash's team also documented that these super-caffeinated mice end up with about a 50-percent reduction in abnormal amyloid proteins, which are thought to play an important role in the development of Alzheimer's.

The typical American drinks about a cup and a half of coffee a day. "So you can see that many of us are below that threshold level that we believe confers protective benefits," says Arendash.

Evidence Not Conclusive

The Alzheimer's mice studies on caffeine are intriguing to researchers who are trying to translate the findings into advice for humans. But interpreting an animal study can be tricky.

"It's always a good starting point," says Joan Lindsay of the University of Ottawa. "But we never know how well it's going to hold up with humans." After all, people are a lot more complicated. And researchers have learned that mice can respond really differently than humans do to a drug, an environmental toxin or a change in nutrition.

Another challenge is to find a reliable test of the memory of mice. Arendash uses a mouse maze to assess the spatial memory of his Alzheimer's mice. He puts the mice in little swimming pools with lots of alleys and dead-ends to see how quickly they can find and remember hidden escape platforms. Similar computer-based maze tests are used in human studies.

"The first thing that is lost in Alzheimer's is short term memory -- the memory for what happened a few seconds or a minute ago," says Arendash. "That's what (the water maze) is focusing on."

Observations Of Coffee-Loving Middle-Aged Folks

There wouldn't be as much interest in Arendash's mice studies if scientists hadn't also begun to gather some evidence that a steady caffeine habit is beneficial to people, too.

One recent study comes from Finland where researchers followed about 1,400 coffee drinkers for more than two decades. Researchers found one group seemed to benefit the most: the people who'd been drinking three to five cups of coffee a day in their 40s and 50s.

"They had about a 65-to-70-percent reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in their 70s," says Huntington Potter, a neurobiologist at the University of South Florida. Potters says effects held up even when researchers controlled for things such as cardiovascular disease, which can influence the risk of dementia.

A few other smaller studies in Europe have led to similar findings, but experts say the research only establishes a correlation between coffee drinking and brain protection.

It's possible that these regular coffee drinkers might have other habits in common that could explain the protective effect. "People who are very active in mid-life are more likely to be drinking coffee than couch potatoes," says Sperling. Maybe the coffee drinkers aren't benefiting from the coffee as much as they are from keeping their minds and bodies active. The studies make it difficult to suss out.

Coffee Drinking Can't Offset Genetic Risks

Sperling says Alzheimer's is an incredibly complicated disease. Exercise and good nutrition do seem to be protective, but a person's risk is largely determined by genes. No one behavior or diet change -- like coffee drinking -- can erase that risk.

If future research brings stronger evidence that caffeine may modify the risk by some small percentage that means coffee lovers will have one more reason to drink away.

Just make sure those five cups don't keep you up all night -- sleep is important to health, too. [Copyright 2010 National Public Radio]

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

So now that the word of mouth is spreading about our store, we've noticed people are 'Yelping' us to find us, and some are even spending the extra time to leave a comment about our store. Here's what people have been saying about us on Yelp.

"Very peaceful place to sit read and drink coffee. It is located next to the foothills of the mountains, so you can see hills out the window."

jo j. (Lakewood CO)

"Independent coffee shops tend to have great coffee, of course. But this stuff is about the smoothest and most flavorful I've had. But the bigger surprise was the low prices. I had just popped-in to grab an eye-opener, but and definitely planning on going back, frequently and soon. And that's saying a lot since we're up in the Bailey area and don't come down the hill unless there's something special for us."

Me F (Park CO)

"I am there at least twice a week."

Angela C (Denver CO)

We love getting comments on Yelp (especially the positive 5-star-rating kind!!). It helps us know if we're on track in delivering the kind of customer experience we set out for. If you're registered with Yelp, and have been to Read, Write & Brew, why not leave us a comment as well?

Friday, May 28, 2010

Jefferson and I still remember the first day we met Sara. We were building out the store - tiling, painting, cleaning, dirty and exhausted - and along comes a bubbly fresh face "Hi! My name's Sara and I can't wait for you guys to open. My two most favorite things in the world are books and coffee. My kids go to the Taekwondo school, so I'm sure you'll see me in your store all the time". Truer words were never spoken, and here we are 8 months later, Java Junkie of the month (our second ever Java Junkie).

On that day we were pretty excited at having officially met our first customer, before we'd even opened for business, and had no idea at the time how we'd come to get to know the awesome person Sara is, and that she would become a valued friend of ours.

Sara comes in almost daily (sometimes bi-daily) for her steamed soy latte - but as the weather has gotten warmer, now she's switched to iced (as per the pic above). She enjoys these at the store while Chloe and Brett (her twin 11 year olds and 'partners in crime') are working their martial art butts off at the Taekwondo studio across the parking lot. They come in after class for their well deserved sugar free and chocolatey drinks and muffins.

Sara lives just down the road in Morrison, and is a teacher at Jefferson Highschool. You'll probably spot her at the store from time to time researching for her classes, or meeting with her fellow teachers. She's passionate about being a high school teacher and by the way she talks about her students, it's obvious she genuinely cares about them, understands them, and respects them. She often comes in wearing 'Jefferson' (school) t-shirts, and has to explain to Jefferson (Read, Write & Brew) that no, she's not his number 1 fan, it's a school shirt, and enough with the wise cracks.

Julie: I haven't heard of that one... is it any good?Sara: A few of my students said they'd read it and said it was really good, so I thought I'd give it a try, amongst others I'm reading right now. But I'm enjoying it.Jefferson: (comes up from behind us and takes over, without invitation) I've got a Jefferson 'Hard Core Question' for you. Name your favorite break dance move.Sara: I don't even know any break dance moves....Jefferson: Would you rather burn to death, or..... what?Sara: What's my alternative?Jefferson: That's for you to say!Sara: Ummm.....Jefferson: (while Sara is saying 'ummm') What do you never leave the house without?Sara: My nails painted.Jefferson: What do you think of animals with tentacles?Sara: They're cool because they can re-generate.Jefferson: What would you like to come back as?Sara: A tree, because they last for a long time in the proper environment and they're constantly changing.Customer walks in and Jefferson crawls back into his cage, where he belongs.Julie: We'll, I guess Jefferson covered pretty much everything. I've got one last question. What's the one thing you'd like the Read, Write & Brew blog readers to know most about you?Sara: That I'm super passionate about working with adverse kids, and eventually I'd like to finish my counseling masters and work in a halfway house. I think that'd be really worthwhile.

About Us...

Opened October 16th 2009. Closed June 29th 2012. Re-opening late July under new owners, as 'Bean Fosters'. Thank you to all our customers who helped make Read, Write & Brew a great place to hang... (you know who you are!).